A little surf camp history lesson

The term surf camp has become commonplace for many people. It was not so long ago, but this word was more of a kind of art or fantasy word and it was much less ago, because this term referred exclusively to camping with like-minded surfers.

But let's start at the very beginning of the story. In the middle of the last century, in the 50s and 60s when surfing was revived despite millennia-old history, it was still a sport for dropouts, life-artists and alternative. Incidentally, the term Hippi did not exist at the time.

Back then, surfing was (as it still is today) more than just a sport, it was a way of life. After the gloomy and deprived years of World War II, there was no youth culture as it is today. The Rock n Roll was still in its infancy. Surfing is still a piece of counterculture in addition to all mainstream and sponsoring deals - but how rebellious surfing must have been in those years. But we are progressing a bit, because in the sixties, surfing as well as rock n roll was an integral part of American youth culture in California. So much so that the beaches in the big cities like Los Angeles could be quite full.
The young surfers of this time were looking for new beaches to surf.

A surfing tourism (as today) did not exist yet and many places where waves known for today's surfers break and broke even then were not yet developed. Therefore, surfers often had no choice but to camp on the beach.
Which of course is still a great thing from today's point of view. Do not we all dream of falling asleep with the sound of perfect, lonely waves and, above all, waking up again ?!

One of the most famous "surf camps" of the time was built around the group of young surfers camping on the north coast of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. These surfers were looking for new challenges. They had devoted their lives entirely to the powerful and now world-famous waves of Hawaii. Tents became small wooden huts. But it remained what it was a simple beachfront accommodation to be as close as possible to perfect and empty waves.

Places and stories like those about Oahu's Northshore have been and still are many. Even today there are still many undiscovered waves breaking on lonely beaches.
But the idea of ​​the surf camp has continued to develop and become quite independent. The great thing about such surf camps is not just the proximity to the waves, but also the fellowship with like-minded surfers. The positive spirit of these inspiring communities infected many surfers, and so many surfers are looking for places to meet like-minded people today.

This led in the late 80s to early 90s that formed the first surf camps in Europe. These surf camps were communities of tents on campsites on the French Atlantic coast. The powerful waves, the endless wide beaches and the easily accessible campsites made sure that a holiday in these tent camps became attractive to more and more young surfers. So more and more surf beginners became aware of the sport.

So another and third important component was added to what we now call surf camps: the proximity to the sea, the community and the opportunity to learn surfing and expert guidance from other surfers.

This simple recipe has been successful to this day and is now used in many places in Europe and around the world.
What has changed?
Little. Except that the place of community no longer as the name suggests, must be a campground. Places by the sea where surfers meet and people learn to surf can also be apartment houses, villas, lodges, bungalow villages and much more. his. Depending on your personal taste and budget.